Vibratory feeding apparatus



May 24, 1938.

J. A. FLINT VIBRATORY FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm mm m A W a m 'ATT'Y vMay 24, 1938; J. A. FLINT 2,

VIBRATORY FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1935 4 s eets-sheet 2 IO P VEN TOR James A. 7-7/7) 7:

I BY- May 24, 1938. A J; A. FLINT. 2,118,182

' VIBRATORY FEEDING APPARATUS Filed June 21, 1935 4 Sheets-$11691. 3

,f/vvE/v TOR.

ATT'Y.

' May 24, 1938. JLA, FLINT 2,118,182

vmm'ronv FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jun 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W I ////l [N VE'N TOR v BY M14. WWI

ATT'Y Patented May 24, 1938 vmaA'roaY FEEDING APPARATUS James A. Flint, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Traylor Vibrator Company, a corporation of Colorado Application June 21, 1935, Serial No. 27,755

12 Claims.

My invention relates to mechanism for feeding granular material, such as black powder, in measured quantities, and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of improved and eflicient mechanism for vibrating'a hopper or other container to maintain e'fiicient feed of granular material therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the pros vision of improved adjusting mechanism for an electric vibrator connected to mechanism for feeding'granular material. J y

A further object of the invention is the provision of reinforced hopper construction to render more efficient the vibratory apparatus connected thereto.- a I Another object of the invention is the provision in multiple feeding mechanism of adjustable electro-magnetic vibratory apparatus.

Another object of the invention is the provisio in feeding mechanism of a; hopper with its inner walls connected transversely intermediate its ends to render more eflicient the vibration of the hopper 'as a whole by means-of vibratory mechanism connectedthereto.

A still further object of the invention is the combination with a multiple pellet press of feeding mechanism comprising a multiple feeding hopper, of vibratory mechanism connected thereto.

" Other objects of the inventionwill appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the multiple pellet press with provements combined therewith; v Fig. 2 is a plan view of the right-hand portion of Fig. 1; e

Fig. 3 is a sectional eievational view of the 40 structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the;

Fig. 81s a sectional plan view taken on theline 8-8 of Fig. .3;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view taken on 4 guides 13 connected by the upper cross-piece l4. The guide frames l5, I! are mounted on'oppobrackets 21, 21' which extend rearwardly from the line 80 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of thearrows; and l v Fig: 10 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line lll- -lll of Fig; 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown in Fig. 3, a stationary feed table II is mounted on a stationary frame l2 of a multiple pellet press which vmay be of well known construction and comprise vertical spaced-apart site sides of the frame l2 in position to enable the elongated" cross-head It to be moved vertically by means of the pitman I'I pivotally connected at its upper end tothe cross-head IS.

The elongated cross-head it carries on its underside. a series of spaced-apart plungers i8 .which fit into cylinders l9 which depend from the feed table II. Extending upwardly into the depending cylinders ZIS are plungers 20 in vertical 20 alinement with the upper plungers l8., The granular material, such as black powder, is fed in measured quantities intov the cylinders 19 for compression by the plungers I 9 into' pellets in the'space 2| between the upper ends of the rlilungers 20 and the lower ends of the plungers Mounted for reciprocation transversely of the feed table I l is a charging table 22 through which vertically extends the cylindrical opening 23 adapted to receive with a snug lit the head .24 at the lower end ,of the plunger l8. It should be understood that the openings 23 in the charging 'table' 22- are equal in number to the depending plungers J8 from the cross-head l6. To the elongated charging table 22 is imparted'a transverse reciprocation over the top of the feed table II by means of automatically operated lever-$.25 which are connected by links 25, 26' to the the charging table'22 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The vertical reciprocation of *the cross-head It by means of the pitman I1 is sotimed in relation to'the horizontal reciprocation of the charging table 22 that the row of cylindrical openings 23 in the charging table 22 are pushed under the multiple chute discharge device 31 while the plungers II and 20 are being given vertical movements relatively to --the feed plate il while being projected into tlie cylinder l8. --Conse*. quently w e granular material in the space 2i is beingcompressed to form a pellet, the charging device 22 is receiving additional granular material'from 'the.hopper. After a pellet has been forined the plunger I8 will be moved up- 5.

plate 22 may be moved under the same. Before the charging plate 22 moves to its delivery position the plunger will be moved upwardly until its upper end is flush with the top of the feed table II and at this time the left-hand end of the charging plate 22 will engage the pellet and move the same onto the inclined discharging table". When the opening 23 registers with the cylinder ii, the plunger 20 is moved downwardly asuflicient distance to permit the granular 'material in the-cylindrical opening 23 to be discharged by gravity into the cylinder I9, where'- upon the charging plate 22 will move forward to the position shown in Fig. 3.

Since the mechanism for operating the plungers I8 and 20 and reciprocating the charging table 22 in timed relation is of 'well known construction, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same in the accompanying drawings.

I have provided such pellet press with a feeding hopper of improved construction and have made provision to vibrate this hopper'by means of an electro-magnetic motor Q9 adjustably connected thereto. Securely. bolted to those sides of the guide frames I5, I! that are located above the charging table 22, are the laterally extending brackets 29, 29'. These brackets 29, 29 may each have the shape shown in elevation in Fig. 1 and each may be. bolted to the stationary upright guide frames l5, ii of the pellet press by means of the bolts, stub screws, and nuts shown at 30, 3|,32in Fig.1. I

At the'outer ends of the bracket plates 29, 29' are auxiliary brackets and-supports as shown in side elevation in Fig. 5. The main auxiliary brackets 33, 33' are in the nature of plate extensions toward each other and connected to the plane brackets. 29, 29' at right angles thereto by means of reinforcements 34, I4.

As shown in Fig. 3, the hopper 35 has an open top and an open bottom, the bottom being bolted at 36, 36 to the elongated multiple chute structure 31 which is preferably a casting having its discharge passageways alternately arranged as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In the plan view shown in Fig. 8 the discharge openings 39 are shown granular material will 'be discharged from the hopper 38 first into those openings 28 below the discharge openings I9 and then another series of openings ll-will be filled from the discharge 9 a mule charging table 22 will be filled with an equal amount of material. 7

It should be understood that while the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings is particularly adapted to feeding mechanism for such. annular material as powder, it may have a general application wherever it is desired to dis- I 2,1 1 8, 182 wardly a sufficient distance so that the charging 2 Fig. 3 and in a horizontal direction as shown in 10 Fig. 2. Spring plates ll, 42, 49 are shown in plan view in Fig. 2, and the spring plates ll, 44 and 65 are shown in side elevation in Fig. 3. The ends of the plates may be secured to the undersides of brackets 46 on the supporting plate 49 15 and their opposite ends may be secured tothe upper sides of the brackets 41 at the back of the Ahopper 35. .The spring plates may be secured to the brackets 46 and .41 by meanslof cap screws as illustrated at" in Fig. 2. 20 As will bemore fully hereinafter explained the I supportingplate is mounted adjustably on the stationary brackets 29, .29, and whenv the sup-' 52, 52 which are adapted to be connected in series 35- with each other and connected by the leads 5! which may extend through the junction box 54 and thence through the insulating pipe 55 to a source of current supply, preferably fill-cycle alternating current, although 25- or iii-cycle cur-' 40 rent may also be used, andin connection with the largest units the source of power maybe direct current superimposed on alternating current'to secure a mixed current operation.

The electromagnetic U-shaped core 50 is secured to the supporting plate 40 at about the center thereof. As shown in Figs. 4 and "l, the U-shelped core 60 may be secured by means of the cap screws 55 to the block 51 which is bolted at 58, 58 to the supporting plate 40. The right angular seat on the block 57 for the core 59 is arranged so that the laminations will be in planes approximately at. an angle of twenty-five degrees (25?) relative to the horizontal.

The laminated armature I9 is secured by means of cap screws 69 to the bracket plate 9| which is shown in Fig. 4 securedto the front plate 92 of the hopper ",by means of the bolts 93, 93. By comparing Fig. 4 with Fig. 3, it will be seen that the laminations of the core 59 and the armature l9 e in planes which are substantially at right ngles to the planes of the spring plates ll, 92, 49, M and 49.:

While the front plate 92 of the hopper u is substantially parallel to the supporting plate ,the spaced-apart spring plates I, ll and N are so arranged that when the armature II is vibrated by operation of the electro-magnetic motor 49, a downward conveyingaction will be imparted to the inner wall 62' of the hopper 25.

Atthe sametime the. inner rear wall 94 will have an upward conveying action. Inasmuch as the multiple chute structure '31 is rigidly bolted-at 39 to the hopper 35, the walls. of the chutes are arranged in continuation of the inner hopper 15 brations will impart a turbulent action to the granular material until it enters'the cylinders 23 in the charging plate 22. The inner rear wall 84 of the hopper 38 is vertical and the inner rear walls 88 of the discharge chutes are rear wardly inclined. The granular material receives no supportingaction from the vertical. wall 84 or the inclined wall 68. The vertical gravity component due to the weight of the granular mate-' rial in the hopper, is on the front inner walls and it is here that the downward conveying action due to the vibrations of the electric motor are effective in aiding the mechanical vibrations of the particles amongst themselves to prevent the granular material from caking or forming unfilled or v,oid spaces. This is further aided by the upward conveying action on wall 84 which will break any arched or caked material.

The vibrations are so small and rapid as not to be visible to the naked eye. However, it is desirable to vibrate the hopper as one rigid unit. In order to avoid bending or distortion of the front plate 82 of thehopper and to more efilciently vibrate the rear wall 64, I have provided a series of partitions or reinforcing cross-plates 88, 86 between the front and-rea'nwalls 82' and cross-plates may each be provided with openings 81, 81 and their lower ends 88 are spaced well above the multiple .chute discharge structure 31,

so as not to interfere with the discharge of the granular material from the hopper 35.. Furthermore, by stabilizing the structure of the hopper the proportioning of the spring plates 41, 42, 43,

44, 48. may be more emciently effected, so as to secure minimum consumption of electric power. It is desirable to employ such a period of positive vibration by means of the electric motor as to be approximately near the natural period of vibration of the hopper. structure.

In order to vary the quantity of material-in each pellet, the charging plate 22 may be disconnected and another of a different thickness substituted therefor, so that cylindrical receiving openings 23 of different capacities may be ,used. In such event the entire vibratory unit,

comprising the supporting plate 40, the hopper resiliency mounted thereon and the electromagnetic vibrator, is adjusted in elevation so as to vary the elevation of the multiple chute discharge 'structure 31 in accordance with the brackets extending toward each otherifrom the lower endsof the bracket plates 33 and 33'.

Collars 81,81 are secured to the lower end 18 of the shaft 14 to rotate withthe latter between the journal bearings 18 and 88. It will thus be seen that the shafts 14 are locked by the collar 81 between the journal bearings 19, and 88, against movement up or down relatively to the supporting framework comprising the brackets 28, 28', but the shafts 14 are free to rotate on their axes and when rotated the screw-threaded connections at 18, 11 with the plate 40 will adjust the latter up or down and by doing so will adjust the elevation of the entire hopper structure'relative to the upper surface of the feed table II, so as to enable charging plates 22 of varying thicknesses to be fitted between the charging table II and thedischarge chutes at the bottom of the hopper.

While the worm gearing 12, 13; asshown in Figs. 3 and 5, is self-locking, it is preferred to add mechanism for rigidly holding the supporting plate 48 connected to the stationary supporting 84 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These reinforcing secured to the shafts 14, 14, the upper endsof which are jo'urnaled in the bearings", 15 of the brackets which are connected to the front side of the supporting plate 44, as shown in Figs.

- 3and 5.

The lower portions of the shafts 14 are sci-ewthreaded at I8, 18 through the brackets I1, 11 which extend from the lower right-hand or front faces of the supporting plates 48, as viewed in Fig. 3. i

The lower ends 18 of the shaft 14 are journaled 75 in the bearings 18 and '80 which are secured to framework including the brackets 29, 29' after the elevation of the hopper has been adjusted.

I have therefore secured to the supporting plate 48 four stub bolts 82, 82, 83, 83 which are mounted as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The stub bolts are rigidly connected to the supporting plate 40 and extend through the upright slots 84, 84, 85, 85

which are located in the bracket plates 33, 33.

Wing nuts 88, 86, 81, 81 are threaded on the stub bolts 82, 82, 83, 83, in position to engage the bracket plates 33, 33 and lock the adjusted plate 48 to the bracket plates 29, 29

It will thus be seen that when the wing nuts are released and the shaft 18 rotated from either end, the space between the multiple discharge chute plate 31 and the feed table II may be adjusted by varying the elevation of the entire hopper, but after such adjustment'has been made and the wing nuts tightened, the plate 48 will be mounted in very rigid connection with the supporting framework so as to serve as a solid and rigid mounting for the vibratory hopper structure which is resiliently mounted on the stationary plate 40.

The distribution of the eight spring plates 4|, 42, 43,44, 45 is such as to enable a single vibratory motor mounted at the center of the front plate 62, to impart a uniform vibration to the entire hopper structure and toall the nineteen (l9) discharge chutes thereof {with the'assuranee that uniform compactness of the granular material will be obtained in theseries of cylindrical openings 23 in the charging plate 22. A multiplicity of small measured quantities may thus be delivered at a very rapid rate, and since the vibratory structure is continuously in operation, the multiple discharge chutes at the bottom of the hopper are always in readiness for delivering granular material ,in the desired manner to the cylindrical openings 23 in the'discharge plate 22.

The resilient platesi 4|, 42 43, 44, 45 are preferabl'y of sufflcient strength to sustain without appreciablebendingthe hopper and the granular material when! the hopper is completely filled.

'The upper surface of the charging plate 22 may therefore make a sliding fit with the bottom of the discharge chutedevice 31 without undue friction and without causing any leakage of the granular material. Since the bottom of. the mul- I in Fig. 3, a tamping action on the material may be obtained when desired, upon operation of the vibratory motor.

By reason of -the accumulation of the positive electric impulses; considerable power may be exerted with a small consumption of electric current. The electro-magnetic forces are substantially at right angles to the planes of the spring plates ll, ll, 45 as shown in Fig. 3. The planes of these platesintersect the planes of the walls 62' and 33 so as to make acute angles on their lower sides. The arcs of vibrations at the inner walls 62 and 84 are toward and away from the baseframe or supporting frame'and are also up and down. In other words, since the electromagnetic impulses are along lines which are parallel to the tangents of the arcs of vibration, the arcuate vibratory forces have both vertical and horizontal components relative to the planes of walls 62' and 64. The horizontal components act to shake the hopper and the material therein so as to cause the material to settle compactly and occupy a minimum amount of space in the multiple discharge chute device 31. The vertical components of the vibratory forces act to provide reverse conveying actions, thus to cause a turbulent eifect on material in the hopper, thereby precluding arching or packing. By reason of the spring plates and the resulting conveying action with the turbulent producing condition, all voids in the granular material are completely filled up and the material is uniformly and very compactly inserted into the cylindrical openings 23. It should also be noted that when the discharge chute device 31 is in contact with the upper side of the charging device 22, the vibratory action causes hammer blows to be exerted by the bot.- tom of the chute discharge device 31 against the top of the charging device 22. At each hammer blow the sudden stopping of the hopper in its downward movement will effect a further packing of the material by reason of its downward momentum.

Not only do the spaced-apart reinforcing plates 66, 66 (Figs. 2' and 3) act to transmit vibratory forces from the inclined wall 62' to the vertical wall 64'. in the nature of struts, but such plates alsoact to keep the hopper and the multiple chute discharge device 31 rigid from end to end so that it will remain uniform as a unit for co-operation with the cylindrical openings 23 in the elongated charging plate 22.

Since the amplitude of vibration may be regulated by varying the air gap between the polebolts 58 extending through slots 83 in the plate 40, the vibratory motor may be adjusted for granular material of different weights. It can readily be seen by referring toFigs; 3 and 5, that by turning either wheel 69 the whole vibratory hopper unit may be varied in elevation relative to the charging device 22. While in some instances the weight of the granular material may appreciably bend the spring plates necessitating adjustment by means of the wheels 33, such adjustment is primarily made for the purpose of regulating the space between the bottom of the multiple chute discharge device 31 and the top of the charging device 22. Only a minute space between the bottom of the multiple chute discharge. device 31 and the top of the charging device 22 is needed for vibration of the hopper by means of the electro-magnetic motor .com-

prising the electro-magnetic element 49 and the plate lll relative to the base frame or supporting framework, the intensity of the hammer blow action may be regulated while at the same time retaining the vibratory forces to secure lateral shaking and downward packing of the gran- 5 hereto appended, and I thereforewish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed. 2

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a reciprocable charging device having an open- 2 ing therein, of a hopper, a discharge chute for delivering material from said hopper to said opening in the charging device, a table for slidably supporting said charging device .in position to have contact with the bottom of said chute 3 when the latter is above said opening, means for resiliently supporting said entire hopper from said table for up and down vibration to cause the hopper and chute to exert a series of hammer blows on top ofsaid charging device-while 3 the opening in the latter is under said discharge chute thereby effecting complete filling and packing of material in said opening, and vibratory motor means for effecting such up and down vibration.

2. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper having an inner wall inclined relative to the vertical, of a base frame, resilient mechanism supporting. said hopper for vibration diag-' onally downward to insure vibratory forces having horizontal and vertical components relative to an inner wall of said hopper and acting on material in said hopper, and an electric vibratory motor connected between said base frame and said hopper to impart to said inner inclined wall such diagonal vibration. 5

3. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper having an inner inclined wall, of a base frame, a plurality of resilient plates connecting said frame to' said hopper adjacent. to said inclined wall in planes intersecting the plane of said wall at acute angles for vibration of said inner wall in downwardly extending arcs toward and from said base frame, and an electric vibratory motor between said frame and said hopper to eo-act with said resilient plates to secure such 6 arcuate vibration. 4. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper having an inner inclined wall, of a base frame, discharge chute mechanism at the bottom of said hopper, a plurality'of flat spring plates connecting said base frame and that side of the hopper having the inclined inner wall, said plates being mountedin parallel planes intersecting the plane of said inner inclined wall at acuteangles on their upper sides, and an electro-magnetic vibratory motor mounted between said base frame and said hopper to act at right angles to the planes of said plates to impart up and down arcuate vibratory movements to said 7 -with a hopper, of a frame member, flat resilient inner wall toward and away from said'base frame thereby imparting to material in said hopper vibrations having vertical and horizontal components to secure compactness of material when passing from said discharge chute mechanism.

5. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper, of discharge mechanism at the bottom thereof, a vibratory motor attached tosaidhopper, a supporting plate, mechanism for mounting said hopper for vibration relatively to said plate, a receiving device below said discharge mechanism and in position to be contacted by said hopper with hammer blows efiected by vibration of said hopper, and means for adjusting the elevation of said supporting plate and the parts mounted thereon to regulate the intensity of the hammer blows exerted by said vibratory motor.

6. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper, of a supporting plate, resilient means for mounting said hopper on said supporting plate, an electric vibratory motor between said plate and said hopper, a transverse shaft journaled in bearings carried by said supporting plate,

a stationary base, spaced brackets connected to said base, mechanism comprising a plurality of nuts on threaded rods extending through slots in said brackets and secured to said supporting plate to clamp the latter at adjusted elevation relative to said base, spaced-apart worms on said shaft, worm wheels meshing with said worms, upright worm shafts journaled in bearings carried by said supporting plate, extensions on said worm shaft threaded through auxiliary brackets on said sup porting plate, and retention journal bearings for the lower ends of said extensions to prevent said worm shafts from moving axially relatively to said supporting plate.

7. In a feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper, of a frame member, flat resilient spring means supporting said hopper from said frame member, and electro-magnetic means for vibrating said hopper comprising a field structure and an armature structure, one of said structures being attached-to said hopper and the other being attached to said base member.

8. In a feeding apparatus, the combination with a' hopper, of a frame member, rasilient spring means supporting said hopper from said frame member, and electro-magnetic means for vibrating said hopper comprising a field structure and an armature structure, one of said structures being attached to said hopper and the other being attached to said base member.

9. In a feeding apparatus, the combination spring means supporting said hopper from said frame member, and electro-magnetic means for vibrating said hopper comprising a field structure and an armature structure, one of said structures being attached to said hopper and the other being attached to said base member, said spring means making an acute angle with a wall of said hopper whereby the vibratory means will impart a conveying action thereto supplementary to the action of gravity.

10. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper, of a base member of appreciable weight, fiat resilient spring meansconnecting said hopper and base, and electro-magnetic means for vibrating said hopper comprising a field structure and an armature structure, one of said structures components relative to said walls, whereby such opposite positions of said side walls have reverse conveying actions on material in said hopper, due to said vibratory movement, thereby to produce a turbulent action on material in said hopper to prevent arching.

12. In feeding apparatus, the combination with a hopper having side walls forming a bottom opening of smaller area than the hopper, and means constructed and arranged to vibrate said hopper with a motion such that diametrically opposite positions on said side walls have movements having both perpendicular and parallel components relative to said walls, whereby such opposite positions of said side walls have reverse conveying actions on material in said hopper, due

to said vibratory movement, thereby to produce a turbulent action on material in said hopper to prevent arching, said vibrating means comprising a vibratory electro-magnetic motor having flat spring means connected between said hopper and a motor base and lying in a plane which makes acute angles with opposite positions on the hopper side walls.

1 JAMES A. FLlN'I'. 

